Opening remarks brought to you by your Smart Fabrics Summit MC, Dr. Amanda Mills.

Dr. Braden Li, Materials Research Engineer, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center & Air Force Research Laboratory

In this presentation, key material challenges and solutions will be shared that are being addressed within the U.S. Air Force to enable next generation smart textiles to better enable personnel to perform their duties by providing both physiological state awareness and mitigating detrimental states such as hypothermia and cognitive fatigue. Herein we discuss our efforts exploring the use of polymer architectures coupled with printable liquid metal (EGaIn) inks to create conformable, flexible, and robust functional textile electronics suitable for applications such as active heating, electrophysiological sensing, and on-body data / power routing. These innovative material sets present new opportunities for additional textile-based wearable sensing, haptics, and augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR) applications that were previously unrealized due to intrinsic material limitations.

Join your industry colleagues for a delicious buffet lunch!  Reconnect with familiar faces and get to know the new ones.

Glenn Saunders, Senior Research Engineer, Manufacturing Innovation Center (MIC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

In this session, we will discuss the relationship between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI); a private technological research university, and the Advanced Robotics in Manufacturing Institute (ARM); one of the 16 Manufacturing USA network institutes, and how we are working together to make robotics, autonomy and intelligence more accessible to US manufacturers, strengthen our economy and global competitiveness, train and empower the manufacturing workforce and elevate our national security and resilience. We will review the objectives, execution details, student involvement and outcomes of several ARM projects in advanced manufacturing (apparel and non-apparel). We will conclude by looking ahead to the role of advanced robotics in wearable technologies.

Dr. Radhakrishnaiah Parachuru, Principal Research Scientist, Georgia Institute of Technology, MSE

Functionally designed fabric shades with built-in smartness to dynamically change their heat and light transfer properties based on changing external conditions provide opportunities for building occupants to control sunlight penetration for heat reduction, thermal comfort, and visual quality. These regulating shades can potentially reduce the cost of heating and cooling. Recent advances in software-based simulation tools make it possible to consider different designs and their application variables in studying the impact of shades on heating, cooling and lighting energy savings.

The impact of shades can be assessed for heating and cooling the whole building and isolated spaces within the building. Energy savings can also be assessed in the presence and absence of automatic lighting controls. The common software tools used to study visual quality are EnergyPlus, AGI32 and DAYSIM. Important facts established through multiple simulation and experimental studies will be shared in this presentation. This presentation will also discuss the commercialization potential of selected products that hold immediate promise for commercialization.

Jack Hicks, Patent Attorney and Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson LLP
Dhruv Agarwal, Vice President-Sustainability, Innovation, Development, Kontoor Brands (Wrangler & HD Lee)

From conception to introduction, the path of bringing a new product to market can involve both legal pitfalls and opportunities. Understanding when to consider legal issues can help avoid wasted efforts and lesson the chances that the right to obtain a patent will be lost.  Using case examples, the speakers will highlight best practices including agreements to protection ownership, patent searches (state of the art; freedom to operate; patentability), provisional/non-provisional/international patent applications, front-loading or back-loading costs, licensing and enforcement.

Join us for a fun and engaging end to the first day of the Smart Fabrics Summit.  Mix and mingle with your industry peers over drinks and appetizers.

Get to know Wilson College faculty, staff, and students and prepare for engaging tours of Wilson College facilities, with hands on workshops!

Join us for a panel discussion on the latest innovation and future trends in manufacturing. From automation and robotics to understanding the scale and complexity of projects—professionals in industry and academia will share their best practices and what is in store for the future.

Beginning at 9 AM, join continuous tours of the Wilson College of Textiles labs, the ASSIST Center’s state-of-the-art research facilities and the NEW Flex Factory.  Shuttles will leave the Talley Student Union every 20 minutes based on scheduled tour times to maximize participation. Each tour group can accommodate approximately 10-15 participants.

While lab tours are taking place, join select Wilson College students and faculty for a selection of demos, poster presentations, and other hands on-activities on a number of topics relative to e-textiles and related cutting edge research, all driven by students!